With the holidays in full swing, a couple of local groups in partnership with the city worked to provide the community with an item that was on their wish list.

The former Sears Building saw its most activity in quite a while this past Saturday for the first iteration of the S.E.A.R.S. Indoor Winter Market, a free pop-up event featuring local vendors, kids activities and live music that’s going to be tested out over four more dates through February.

The repurposing of the “Seasonal Entertainment Arts and Recreation space,” at 318 Jackson St. is evidence of the Columbus Downtown 2030 plan in action, and turned out to be a hit its first time around.

During the input process as part of the city’s newest strategic plan, one common piece of feedback from community members was how much they appreciated the Columbus Farmer’s Market, and how there was an appetite for more of something similar.

Urban planning and design firm Sasaki, who partnered with subconsultants SB Friedman and Storyboard in the plan’s inception, put together more than 50 recommendations for the future of downtown, based on community feedback, divided over the immediate to long-term.

Since the recommendations were officially released in September, three different implementation teams Mayor Mary Ferdon put together have begun looking for ways to realize some of the ideas in the plan.

One such recommendation in the 2030 plan was some type of market hall to operate as a year-round Columbus Farmer’s Market location. This drove momentum for the pop-up, which was a collaboration between the city’s department of community development, Office of Downtown Development (ODD) and Columbus Area Arts Council.

“This all came together in like eight weeks,” said Jacob Sipe, the city’s director of community development. “We wanted to do something immediate that can engage everybody.”

As he spoke a day before the market opened, Sipe was rearranging some cones for what would turn out to be a popular big wheel track.

“I saw the space and knew that we wanted it to be multi-generational,” said Sipe, who joined the city over the summer after previously serving as executive director for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). “I had no experience working on big wheel tracks with the state.”

And with four dates to come on Jan. 3, Jan. 17, Jan. 31 and Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., there’s always room for improvement.

“We would have liked to have a couple ping-pong tables,” Sipe posited, taking estimation of the kids play area.

“During those sessions with Storyboard— a lot of voices said: ‘Love the farmer’s market,’” said Ike DeClue, executive director of ODD. “’We wish there was something comparable to that in the winter.’”

The market encompasses a “main street” area with more than 20 vendors, a play area for children overseen by kidscommons, as well as a space for a beer garden, picnic tables and a performance stage programmed by Columbus Area Arts Council. Food trucks sitting outside on Jackson Street served as dining options.

Daniel Martinez, director of Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program designed the layout for the market, DeClue said. A $15,000 grant community development provided to ODD got the pop-up off the ground.

The Office of Downtown Development organized two different outdoor night markets in November and December for First Thursdays, and it was evident there was continued vendor interest in similar opportunties.

Josie Royer, who does marketing and events for ODD, said they were able to build a healthy vendor list, and when calls went out for the winter market, vendors were eager to get a spot.

“We’ve gotten an overwhelming amount of vendor applications for this one— we have 60 applicants,” Royer said. “I think it’s rare that Columbus has one big event where there’s opportunities for a lot of vendors to come together and have such good exposure. I think a lot of people miss the farmer’s market once it ends in September. So I think having something that’s similar— that’s indoors and seasonal— is really intriguing for people.”

There’s free admission to the market, but people are asked to provide feedback by writing on a large white board situated near the kids play area.

“The great thing is, every two weeks if something doesn’t work, we’re willing to scrap it and add something better,” DeClue said. “And then each two weeks, if people really like something, we’ll keep that.”

“And then hopefully by the last one in mid-February, we have a really good idea of what worked and what didn’t, so that if there was a more permanent location (for the winter market), we know what people really want,” DeClue went on.

The city purchased the building from Cummins for $4.2 million in 2024, with the idea being that it will be sold back to a private developer sooner-rather-than-later, with its new use informed by the 2030 plan.

“It may or may not be here,” Sipe said, noting that the 2030 plan actually shows a market hall closer to the end of Fourth Street.

“The idea is this is going to allow us to say to developers, number one, we want a market hall,” Sipe said. “And then number two, this is what the community has said that they value in it. And then how do we incorporate that into a larger development?”

Sipe said that ideally, a future market hall would be part of a residential multi-family property.

“It really is about allowing us to have an informed conversation with developers,” Sipe said. “Hopefully when you come back every Saturday, it’s going to look a little different.”

More information can be found at: searsmarket.com.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department purchased a new vehicle on Monday, and took a step to buy five more next year.

The Bartholomew County Commissioners approved a proposal to purchase one 2026 Chevy Silverado from North Vernon-based Country Chevrolet for $50,243.

The commissioners also gave notice to bidders for five additional vehicles for the sheriff’s department, seeking quotes on both Chevrolet Silverados and Chevrolet Tahoes which law enforcement is looking to buy in 2026.

The purchase of the 2026 Silverado is in line with quotes County Chevrolet provided in January 2025 when the sheriff’s department bought five 2025 Silverados for just over $250,000. The new vehicle is already pursuit-rated, meaning it’s equipped to handle the demands of high-speed chases.

Commissioner Tony London, R-District 3, pointed out how “it’s unconventional” to buy a lone vehicle this late in the year, but said the process of getting new vehicles for law enforcement has changed drastically since COVID.

The specialized configurations law enforcement needs for its vehicles are harder to source and build, and lasting vehicle supply and delivery disruptions caused by the pandemic complicate that even further.

Departments have had trouble finding law enforcement-equipped vehicles, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office representatives said previously, and in some cases are buying base vehicles and retrofitting them.

“Since COVID, it’s a crapshoot whether you’re going to get any vehicles or not,” London said. “It’s completely changed the way we have to get vehicles for the sheriff’s department.”

“It’s almost gotten to the point where we’re competing against every other municipality just to have vehicles,” London went on.

Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz, R-District 1, said the notice to bidders for the five additional vehicles will not require a bid bond, which previously had been an issue with some submitters.

“It’ll actually cheapen the bid a little,” Kleinhenz said.

Bids for the five additional vehicles will be opened in a later commissioners meeting.

Three local private school teachers were honored with an annual award meant to recognize some of the area’s most outstanding teachers.

Karie Sutton, a third-grade and music teacher at White Creek Lutheran School, Kendra Duke, a lower elementary teacher at ABC Stewart School and Micah McCormick, a sixth-grade social studies and discipleship teacher at St. Peter’s Lutheran School, are the 2025 recipients of the Reams Family Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Heritage Fund announced.

Established in 2007 by former Bartholomew County residents Fred and Karen Reams, the annual awards recognize outstanding educators teaching in the private schools serving Bartholomew County and come with a cash stipend. Recipients are nominated by their principals with additional recommendations encouraged from fellow teachers, parents and students.

Sutton was the first-place award recipient and will get a $6,000 stipend. Nominated for her enthusiasm, patience and dedication, Sutton was credited by Principal Whitney Vandercar for developing and sustaining the band and choir programs at the school, making it possible for dozens of students to create music.

Sutton also used her own musical talents to inspire and instruct in other subjects— from math to Bible passages, according to Heritage Fund.

Duke has been at ABC Stewart for five years and will receive a $5,000 stipend.

Head of School Stefanie Stafford described Duke as a compassionate and inspiring educator, touting her commitment to her students and creating an engaging environment where they each feel valued.

St. Peter’s Principal Paul Meredith praised McCormick for her professionalism, positive spirit and servant-hearted leadership. He also noted her professional growth and desire to support all learners.

McCormick, who has taught at the school for four years, will receive a $4,000 stipend as part of the recognition.

Columbus Regional Health announced Tuesday that it will implement hospital visitation restrictions starting next week, citing a rise in respiratory infections ahead of holiday gatherings.

CRH officials said the county hospital system has seen a recent increase in people with respiratory viruses coming through its emergency department and outpatient settings.

So far, the biggest jump in cases has been with flu, though officials have seen cases of COVID-19 and RSV. Hospitalizations at CRH have remained “pretty stable,” officials said.

“With people gathering for the holidays in the next couple days/weeks, and lower vaccination rates, this is a crucial time,” CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue told The Republic on Tuesday. “We ask that everyone be extra diligent with symptom awareness, hand hygiene, masking if you’ve had symptoms or live around someone with symptoms, etc.”

Starting Monday, CRH will limit visitation at the hospital campus in Columbus to people ages 18 years and up, as well as no more than two visitors per patient at a time. Visitation hours will remain unchanged.

Visitors may rotate in most cases, although special exceptions may apply depending on patient circumstance or unit/department requirements, the hospital said.

The hospital said the following guidelines will also be implemented:

• Visitors having symptoms suggestive of illness (including, but not limited to: cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea, tiredness, headache, or vomiting) will not be allowed to visit and will be respectfully asked to leave for the safety of our patients and staff.
• Visitors may be asked to wear a mask in patient rooms when requested.
• Birthing Center and Pediatrics/Women & Children’s
• For the Birthing Center, patients must identify, upon arrival, two primary support persons to be present while in labor, and no more than four additional individuals who will be permitted visitation rights during their stay (this number does not include the “primary support persons”).
• For the Level 2 Nursery, only the two individuals with an ID band matching the infant’s band will be allowed to visit. There will be no additional visitors allowed in the Level 2 Nursery.
• Birthing Center & Pediatrics (Women & Children) visitation is allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be no visitors allowed between 2 a.m./p.m. and 4 a.m./p.m. due to maternal rest time.
• Visitation amendments may be made in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of unit leadership.

The announcement from CRH comes one day after Franciscan Health issued visitation restrictions at hospitals in central Indiana due to increased respiratory virus activity.

Franciscan Health hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel implemented updated visitation restrictions this week in inpatient areas. The following policy went into effect on Monday:

• Visitors must be at least 18 years old
• Only two visitors per patient are allowed to visit at a time (excluding clergy who are part of the care team).
• Those having symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including, but not limited to cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea, tiredness, headache and vomiting, will not be allowed to visit.
• If visiting a patient who has respiratory symptoms, visitors are asked to keep a mask on and do not visit the cafeteria, coffee and gift shops or waiting rooms.
• Visitors should continue to practice good hand hygiene.
• Visitation hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The updated policies are being implemented with input from Franciscan Alliance leadership and in accordance with guidelines from the Marion County Public Health Department, the hospital system said.

Franciscan Health also urged everyone ages 6 months and older to get a flu shot, saying that vaccination is “the first and most important step for protecting against flu viruses.” RSV vaccines are also strongly encouraged, Franciscan said..

The jobless rate in Bartholomew County stood at 3.4% in September, down from 3.8% in September 2024, according to the most recent data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Unemployment was flat at 3.2% in Jackson County and declined from 3.5% to 3.3% in Jennings County over the same period.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was a seasonally adjusted 3.7% in September, down from 4.4% a year earlier. The U.S. jobless rate was a seasonally adjusted 4.4% last month, up from 4.1% in September 2024.

The update from state officials came as the federal government reported that United States gained 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October as federal workers departed after cutbacks by the Trump administration, the government said in delayed reports, The Associated Press reported.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in October, highest since 2021.

The November job gains were higher than the 40,000 economists had forecast, according to wire reports. The October job losses were caused by a 162,000 drop in federal workers, many of whom resigned at the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept. 30 under pressure from billionaire Elon Musk’s purge of U.S. government payrolls.

Labor Department revisions also knocked 33,000 jobs off August and September payrolls.

Hiring has clearly lost momentum, hobbled by uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the lingering effects of the high interest rates the Fed engineered in 2022 and 2023 to rein in an outburst of inflation, according to wire reports. Since March, job creation has fallen to an average 35,000 a month, compared to 71,000 in the year ended in March.

Both the October and November job creation numbers, released last week by the Labor Department, came in late because of the 43-day federal government shutdown. Those delays have made deliberations more difficult at the Federal Reserve, where policymakers are divided over whether the labor market needs more help from lower interest rates.

The unemployment rate, though still modest by historical standards, has risen since bottoming out at a 54-year low of 3.4% in April 2023, according to the AP. It rose from 4.4% in September, and the number of people in the labor force – those working or looking for work – increased 323,000 from September. A rate for October was not available because of the shutdown.

The latest jobs figures could decline in the coming months, according to wire reports. Last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that the central bank thinks that hiring has been overcounted by about 60,000 jobs a month since spring. “You can say that the labor market has continued to cool gradually, maybe just a touch more gradually than we thought,” Powell said at a recent news conference.